Multi-station winding machine with servicing unit



061. 3o, 1962 s. FURST ETAL 3,061,216

MULTI-STATION WINDING MACHINE WITH SERVICING UNIT Filed Feb. 2'?, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 30, 1962 s. FURsT ETAL 3,061,216

MULTI-STATION wINDING MACHINE WITH sERvIcING UNIT Filed Feb. 27, 1959 2 sheets-sheet z United States Patent Lice 3,961,216 s MULTI-STATION WINDING MACHINE WITH SERVICING UNIT Stefan Frst, Manchen-Gladbach, and Manfred Rhl,

Rheydt, Germany, assigncrs to Walter Reiners, Monchen-Gladbach, Germany Filed Feb. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 796,049 Claims priority, application Germany Feb. 28, 1958 17 Claims. (Cl. 242-356) Our invention relates to multi-station coil-winding machines for re-winding relatively sm-all yarn packages, such as the spinning cops as they come from the spinning machine, into larger yarn packages of desired shape and size. lIn `a more particular aspect, my invention relates to the `sequential servicing of the winding stations by means of a single tender or servicing unit whenever it becomes necessary for that unit to elminate stoppage conditions in a station as may be caused by yarn breakage or depletion of the yarn supply coil.

Multi-winding stations `of such type, comprising a single servicing unit common to a number of stations, have previously been disclosed in copending applications Serial No. 675,577, filed August 1, 1957, now abandoned; Serial No. 691,632, tiled October 22, 1957; and Serial No. 728,139, tiled April 14, 1958, all of these applications being assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Our invention, more in particular, is related to improvements in machines of the type disclosed and claimed in said applications and is hereinafter described with particular reference to improvements made in the machine as illustrated and described in the above-mentioned application Serial No. 728,139. The multi-station winding machine according to any pending application Serial No. 728,139 is provided with a travelling tender or servicing unit which can pass by the individual winding stations in two directions of travel. The servicing devices mounted on the unit, namely the yarn-end seizing and knotting devices or the devices for exchanging a depleted yarn supply coil by a new full coil, are placed in operation only if such servicing operation becomes necessary in any one individual station and this necessity I is signalled by a fault-responsive sensing device of thatA station. The servicing unit is provided with switching or control means which cause the unit to change its travelling speed or, preferably to become temporarily stopped, depending upon whether and what particular kind of servicing work is needed at an individual station.

It should be understood that the servicing unit described herein as being movable relative to a stationary group of winding stations, is intended to include, with respect to the present invention, `any arrangement within the scope of the claims annexed hereto where a relative motion exists between thhe winding stations on the one hand and the servicing unit on the other hand. Consequently, the invention is applicable in cases where the winding stations are stationary and the servicing unit travels periodically along the series of stations, as well as to machinery in which the servicing unit is stationary and the winding stations travel along that unit; analogously, the relative travel motion may also apply to machines in which the winding stations on the one hand and the servicing unit on the other hand are both movable but at respectively different speeds in order to produce the desired relative displacement between the servicing unit and the winding stations.

`According to application Serial No. 728,139 the travelling servicing unit is provided with a stop member for arresting the relative travel of the unit. member is connected through a linking member with the releasing or start-stop device which causes the servicing means of the unit to operate for eliminating a fault or The stop yarn absence in the station being serviced. However, it is possible in the machine that the stop member may be already actuated at a moment .before it is accurately positioned `opposite the stop recess in the boss of the tubular carrier structure which forms a travel path for :the servicing unit. Thus it may happen that the servicing unit becomes arrested somewhat prematurely or somewhat later than is desirable for most accurate performance. In order to obviate such possibility, the recess in the boss can be designed as an elongated slot extending in the travel direction of the servicing unit. Such an elongated recess, however, would yhave the disadvantage that the servicing unit, `depending upon whether it arrives from the right or the left, becomes stopped at different or non-uniform locations. That is, the stop member or tappet described in application Serial No. 728,139 would in one case abut against one end of the elongated recess Iat the left side, but would abut in another case against the end of the slot at the right side. In order to obtain an accurate cooperation of the servicing unit with the winding station under such conditions, the cooperating devices of each station on the one hand and of the servicing unit on the other hand lmust be given a particularly wide design so that they remain actively engageable with each other despite the above-mentioned diiferences in position of the arrested servicing unit. Furthermore, for* reliably inserting the yarn ends into the knetter, it is necessary to provide a particular yarn-guiding or threading device which ofers the yarn end to the knotter always at the same, narrowly limited location regardless of whether the unit is arrested in the above-mentioned right-hand position or left-hand position of the arresting-- slot.

It is therefore an object of our invention to improve machines of the above-mentioned type so that the windingv unit is always accurately arrested in a single predetermined location in front of each individual winding unit regardless of the particular travelling direction of the servicing unit. As a result, the above-menthioned shortcomings of the known types of machines are eliminated.

According to one of the features of our invention, the above-mentioned improvement is achieved by inserting between the stop member or tappet and the control switch of the servicing unit an elastic member which is stressed when the control switch of the servicing unit is placed in operation by the fault-responsive yarn guard of an indi-V vidual winding station, regardless of whether the travel- "i ling servicing unit approaches that station from the left if or from the right. By means of a novel stop member and arresting recess the device assures a reliable arresting of the servicing unit always at the one most accurate location in front of a winding station to be serviced.

According to another feature of our invention, the stop member for arresting the travelling servicing unit and the pawl or other release member for releasing lthe stop member are so interconnected that the servicing devices of the unit commence operating only after the servicing unit is arrested relativeto the winding station.

Analogously, when the servicing operation is termithat do notrequirel such-accurate fixing, already before the winding station is accurately stopped in the precise 'v l'iltented Oct. 30, 1962l position. More particularly, the just-mentioned discriminating operation with respect to the performance of the servicing devices on the travelling unit is effected by providing a force storer between the releasing member 30 and the stop member 31.

According to still another feature of our invention, an additional saving in time is achieved by providing means for moving the stop member out of the position in which it fixes the servicing unit in accurate position relative to the winding station, before the cycle of servicing operations of the servicing unit is fully completed.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and features of our invention will be apparent from, and will be described in the following with reference to the embodiments of multi-station winding machines according to the invention illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a winding machine equipped with a servicing unit.

iFIG. 2 is a cross section of the same machine taken through the servicing unit.

FIG. 3 shows in cross section on an enlarged scale the devices for arresting and releasing the servicing unit.

FIG. 4 shows the components of FIG. 3 in longitudinal section.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of another machine according to the invention provided with electric means for actuating the stop member and releasing member.

FIG. 6 illustrates schematically another modification including electric control means.

FIG. 7 shows schematically a further modification with mechanical control means.

IFIG. 8 illustrates schematically a modification ap plicable for hydraulic or pneumatic control operation.

In the winding machine according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the mobile tender or servicing unit 5 travels along the machine in front of the individual Winding station in the same manner as is more fully described in the application Serial No. 728,139.

In the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, two lateral standards 1 and 2 of the machine frame or carrier structure are connected with each other by a tubular horizontal carrier 4. Mounted above the carrier 4 are a number of individual coil winding stations generally designated as 3 along which a servicing tender 5 may travel. The tender 5 carries the servicing devices required for eliminating .the faults and stoppages of the coil-winding operation in the respective winding stations 3. A motor 6 drives, by means of transmission 7, two endless chains 8 and 9 (FIG. 2). The chain 8 serves to entrain the tender 5 along the machine. The chain 9 serves for driving the servicing devices of the tender 5. Conventional reversing 0r limit switches can be used :to reverse the motor at the travel limits of the tender.

The lateral standards 1 and 2 of the machine frame structure are connected with each other not only by tubular carrier 4 but also by a bottom rail 2,0 (FIGS. l, 2), a horizontal carrier 21 for the tensioners 16 and an upper tubular rail 22 which carries the individual staltions 3. Mounted on the upper rail 22 is an arm 23 extending in a vertical plane. A supporting member 159 (IFIGS. 1, 2) serves for bracing the tubular carrier 4.

In FIG. 2, the supply coil 14 is shown by dot-anddash lines in the position occupied when the coil is being unwound. The supply coil 14 is carried by a pivotally mounted thorn 67 which can be turned about its pivot so as to be located in the end portion of a trough 15. In this position of thorn 67, a supply coil 14 arriving from above in the trough 15 is automatically speared upon the thorn. Thereafter, a spring (not shown) automatically returns the thorn 67 into the unwinding position. Located between the yarn tensioner 16 and the yarn-guiding drum 11 is a yarn guard 17 which continuously tests the operation for presence of the yarn F and which turns clockwise to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2

in the event of yarn failure. A double-armed lever 18, 19 is fastened to the yarn guard 17 in the vicinity of the pivot axis 17a. The fault-responsive pivoting motion of the guard 17 in the clockwise direction causes the winding station to be stopped in the known manner by lifting the pick-up spool 13 off the guiding drum 11 and braking the supply coil 14. Since the lifting mechanism is known as `such and not essential to the invention proper, it is not illustrated in order not to obscure the other components. Lever arm 18 in relation With arm 19 forms a switching segment, and arm 18 serves also for resetting the yarn guard 17.

The tender 5 has running wheels 24 which roll along the tubular carrier 4. Rollers 24a journalled on the tender 5 serve to guide the tender along the bottom rail 20. At least one of the two Wheels 24 can be pulled off its shaft; and the tender 5 can then be lifted out of the assembly. For this purpose, the tender is turned about the axis of the bottom rail 20 and can then be lifted past the upper rail 22. The insertion of the tender is effected in the opposite manner. For facilitating such removal or insertion, the last location 3a (FIG. 1) on the multi-station machine may be left vacant or the individual winding station located at this point can be made removable.

Mounted on tender 5, at the servicing side thereof, is a switch arm or switching member 25 (FIG. 2) which is kept in approximately vertical position by a tension spring 29a. Switch arm 25 is fastened to a shaft 27 which carries a crank 28. Rotating motion of switch arm 25 thus causes the crank 28 to pull against spring 29a Which pulls a stop pawl lever 30 away from and a lever 42 simultaneously against a start-stop control cam 32. The motion of crank 28 is transmitted through spring 29a to the pawl lever 30 which imparts this motion to a latch 31. When latch 31 is thus moved downwardly, it can enter into the center bore of a boss 51 on carrier 4, thus arresting the tender and latching it to the tubular carrier 4. The pawl 30 and the latch 31 cooperate with cam disc 32 which has a cam notch 34 into which the pawl 30 can enter, whereby the pawl arrests the cam disc. Cam disc 32 has a cam groove 33 and a dog 35. In a given rotational position of groove 33, a control lever 36 carrying a spur-gear segment 37 can enter into the groove. Segment 37 meshes with a pinion 38 which is connected with a suction tube 39 for conveying the yarn end to be found and seized.

By virtue of the elastic connecting member, namely the spring 29a, the stopping recess 31b (FIG. 3) in the boss 51 of the carrier structure 4 need not be given an elongated shape because the stop member 31 is placed by the elastic action of spring 29a onto the top surface of the boss 51 and is kept under pressure until the stop member 31 is just opposite the recess of the boss 51 and can catch into the recess 31b. Due to the use of the force-storing member, such as elastic member 29a, the control switch 25 of the servicing unit can build up and keep ready the necessary tensioning force required for rapid switching operation, before the travelling winding unit has reached the ultimate stopping position. In contrast to the machine according to application Serial No. 728,139 where a linking rod is entrained by crank 28 to move the stop pawl lever 30, according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 of the present invention, a spring 26a is provided which pulls the levers 30 and 42 simultaneously against control cam 32. The motion of crank 28 is thus transmitted through spring 29a to the lever 30 which imparts this motion to the stop member 31.

Linked to the control lever 36 is a driving tappet 40 (FIG. 2) for a knotting device 41. The dog 35 of cam disc 32 cooperates with a projection 43 of control lever 42 so that, during passage of dog 35, the lever 42 is shifted counterclockwise about its pivot and then pushes a return tappet 45, in opposition to a pressure spring 26a, against the return lever arm 18. When dog 35 passes beyond the projection 43, the control lever 42 returns to its position illustrated in FIG. 2. K

Schematically shown at 46 (FIG. 2) is a conveying arm which is pivoted on the tender 5. It is intended that arm 46 be of the usual suction type known in the art. At the start of the yarn-end finding operation, the arm 46 turns from the uppermost position, shown by a dotand-dash line, downward toward the yarn tensioner 16 in order to thereafter convey the yarn end, then located in the tensioner 16, upwardly to the knotter 41. Such knotting and conveying devices are known as such, and for that reason are not shown and described herein in further detail, since they form no part of the invention proper.

The tender I5 has Ia suction conduit 52 whose lower end sequentially communicates with lateral openings 50 of the tubular carrier 4 as the tender 5 travels along the carrier. Each opening 50 (FIG. 2) is normally covered by `a lid 49. As the tender approaches, the lid is turned yaway from the opening 50 so that the suction conduit 48 becomes connected -with the suction `system of which the carrier forms la part. Conversely, when the tender leaves a winding station, the lid 49 is released and then automatically closes the suction inlet opening 5t). The suction conduit 52 provides vacuum pressure for the suction tube 39 of the yarn-end finding device. This function of lid 49 is further illustrated and described in the abovementioned copending application Serial No. 728,139.

The endless chain 8 has one of its chain members provided with an entrainer pin 54 (TFIG. 2) which projects into fa vertically elongated slot 56 in the tender structure and thereby entrains the tender to travel back iand yforth along the tubular carrier 4. However, since the tender 5, whenever needed, is stopped by the latch 31 in front of an individual winding station, 'a slip clutch '55 is interposed between the driving shaft of lgear 7 and the driving sprocket of the endless chain 8, so that the chain `8 is temporarily arrested as long as the tender is stopped. ln contrast thereto, the endless 'chain `9 rotates continuously about its sprockets and, as soon as the tender 5 is stopped, actuates a step-down transmission 57 whose rotation is transmitted by la chain 58 and a spur gear `59 through Ia slip clutch "60 onto a shaft 61 which carries a worm 62 driving the cam disc 32.

When starting the operation of the multi-station winding machine, the tender 5 yfirst travels from station to station and, by means of a switching `arm 25, detects whether the yarn guard 17 in each station has turned into the fault-responsive position shown by full lines in FIG. 2, thus signalling that a knotting or coil-exchanging operation is needed. The fault-responsive movement of yarn guard 17 has the effect of turning its switch arm 19 into the travelling range of the switch yarm or switching memb-er 25 on the tender so that when the tender passes by, either from the left or the right, the Iarm 19 turns the switch `arm 25 in one or the other direction. Such turning movement of arm 25 is transmitted through shaft 27 to crank 28 which, irrespective of the ldirection of rotation, turns the pawl 30 and the latch 31 downward. Now, latch 31 enters into the center bore of boss '51 and arrests the tender l5 in front of the winding station, while the operation of that station is also stopped. The step-down transmission 57 is placed in rotation by the continuously rotating chain 9. Transmission 57 then yacts through chain 58, spur gear '59, slip clutch `60, shaft 61, and worm -612 to ldrive the cam disc 32 in the `direction identified in FIG. 2 by an arrow. The control lever 36 can now drop into the cam groove 33 and entrain the spur gear segment 37 counterclockwise, thus rotating the pinion 38 clockwise. The suction tube '39 fastened to pinion 38 now turns from its lowermost (not illustrated) position upwardlly. Since at this time the suction channel `4S of conduit 52 is in communication with the opening S0 of the tubular carrier 4 at the location lof lthe winding stationbeing served by the tender, the vacuum is effective to produce a current of suction air `at the nozzle end of 6 suction tube 39. This air current sucks the free yarn end of the take-up spool 13 into the tube 39. iPor this purpose, the take-up spool 13 is preferably turned in the reverse direction by known means y(not illustrated).

During further rotation of c-am disc 32, the control lever 36 again turns back in the clockwise direction, and the suction tube 39 of the yarn-end finder device Iagain turns downwardly, thus entraining the seized yarn end from the take-up spool 13 into the immediate vicinity of the knotter 41. At the same time, the conveying arm 46 has passed from its uppermost (dotJand-dash) position to the lowermost (full line) position 46 where it seizes the yarn end coming from the supply coil 14. During the next following return t-ravel in the 'upward `direction of arm 46, the -latter yarn end is Ialso placed against the knotter 41 which now ties both yarn ends together in ya known manner.

In the meantime, the cam disc 32 lhas turned to the position where its `dog 35 presses 'against the projection 43 of control lever 42 and thus pushes the return t-appet 45 toward the left for a short interval of time. The tappet movement acts upon the lever arm 18 of the yarn guard 17 and resets the guard so that the winding station is .ready for further operation. After the knotting operation has been satisfactorily performed, the winding station continues the Winding-up of the take-up spool 13. I-f the knotting operation has failed, then the yarn Iguard 17 does not remain in its lowerm-ost position Iand thus initiates a repetition of the above-described servicing operation.

Immediately after the dog 35 has passed bey-ond projection 43, the stop pawl 30 enters into the notch 34 of cam 32. This releases the latch 31 from the boss 51, and the chain 8, kept under tension by the slip clutch 55, entrains the tender 5 by means of the entrainer pin '54. The tender 5 then travels to th-e next following 'winding station where, if needed, the servicing operation is initiated and performed in the same manner as described Iabove.

As mentioned above, in the event the yarn F breaks in an individual winding station, the yarn guard 17 turns from the dot-and-dash line position to the full-line position shown in FIG. 2, and the lever 19, firmly joined with' the guard 17, enters into the range of the control switch member 25. When the servicing unit 5 approaches a station in which the yarn guard 17 is thus deflected to the full-line position according to FIG. 2, the control switch 25 is engaged by the yarn guard, and both switch 25 and its shaft 27 are turned out of the normal position, thus also turning the crank 28. It is essential to the present inven.- tion that the crank 28 and the release `control lever 30 are connected by a spring 29a, as mentioned above.

According to another feature of the invention, best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the entering end 31a of the stop member 31 is shaped conically where this end enters into the recess 31b of the boss, whereby the precision of the fixing operation is further improved. The boss 51, as shown in FlG. 4, may be given an elongated shape in both directions of travel so that, if the control switch 25 is actuated suliciently early, the frusto-conical end 31a of the stop member 31 can iirst glide on the top surface of the boss 51 and can catch into the recess 31b at the moment when the servicing unit is accurately located in front of the winding station to be serviced. As a result, the stop member 31, before it reaches the recess 31b in the arresting boss 51, places itself upon the top surface of the boss 51 and glides with its end face on this top surface. Only when the st-op member 31 is accurately located opposite the recess 31b can the stop member snap into the recess whose shape is matched to that of the stop member. This operation is independent of whether the servicing unit arrives from the right or the left. Such operation has essentially the effect of latching the servicing unit at the particular winding station and secures an accurate positioning of the individual cooperating devices I of the winding station and the servicing unit respectively,

such as the control devices as Well as the knotter and the yam-seeking means of the servicing unit.

It is preferable to make the active working stroke of the releasing member proportionately greater than the active Working stroke of the stop member. For example, the component parts may be so dimensioned that the servicing unit is already stopped at a moment when the release member and the stop member have both performed one-half of their active stroke, whereas the release and start of the servicing operation is effected when threequarters of the work stroke is completed. To accomplish this end, it is essential that the cooperating parts, particularly the pawl or release control lever 30, the recess 34 in control cam 32 cooperating with release control lever 30, the stop member 31 and the recess 31b to be engaged by the stop member, are so dimensioned that the withdrawal of the control lever 30 out of the cam recess 34 requires a longer operating stroke than is required for the stop member 31 to enter and latch in the recess 31h.

The Working stroke of the releasing member 30l is therefore made larger than the depth of the cam recess 34 and must be at least as large as the working stroke necessary for the releasing operation. The working stroke of the stop member 31 is made larger than the distance b (FIG. 3) required for stopping and 1atching the servicing unit. If the active portion b ofthe stroke is made approximately one-half as large as the length of the working stroke a (FIG. 3), then the stopping and latching of the servicing unit at the winding station takes place earlier than the release of the servicing operations of the unit.

It is further preferable to form the latching end 31a of the stop member 31 and the recess 31b in the boss 51 as conical shapes. Such parts -t accurately into each other and thus always secure an accurate arresting of the servicing unit at the winding station. Other mating parts of tapering shape, for example tooth-shaped members or trapezoidal members are applicable for the same purpose.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6, a set of contacts 110, 111 is mounted on the Winding station, and a cooperating set of contacts 112, 113 is mounted on the travelling servicing unit 5. The two sets of contacts form part of an actuating device for stop member 31 and are in respective engagement with each other only when the servicing unit is in proper position relative to the winding station. When the yarn F breaks, the yarn guard 17 turns from the full-line position to the dot-anddash position 17 and actuates a pair of contacts 114, 115, thus closing an electric circuit through the contact sets 110, 111 and 112, 113. The circuit is energized from a current source 116 and comprises a solenoid or electromagnet 117. The armature 118 of magnet 117 acts upon the control lever 30, which, as described above, releases the control cam 32 for performing a cycle of servicing operations and which also causes the servicing unit to be arrested by means of the stop member 31. In this case, the magnet 117 can act in the same manner as the abovedescribed spring 29a, namely, as an elastic member, that is, when the above-mentioned electric circuit is closed. the stop member 31 is under the effect of a force which tends to make the stop member catch into the recess 31b as soon as the stop member and recess are accurately located opposite each other.

While in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the yarn guard 17 is returned to its original position by mechanical means, the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is further modied for returning the yarn guard electrically. When the yarn guard 17 deilects as a result of yarn breakage, and the contact pair 114, 115 closes the circuit of magnet 117 thus commencing the servicing cycle, the armature 11S of magnet 117 pulls the release control lever 30 out of the cam recess 34. The control cam 32 has a cam projection 120 which, near the termination of the iirst cycle of servicing operations, depresses the control lever 30 and closes a contact pair 121, 122 which shortcircuits the winding of the magnet 117. Linked to the yarn guard 17 is the armature 123 of another electromagnet 124. The armature 123 is attracted by the electromagnet 124 only after the shorting of magnet 117 has caused the electric current to exceed a given minimum value. Since this takes place at the end of the cycle of servicing operation, namely by the closing of contacts 121 and 122, the yarn guard 17 is moved back into operative position by the electromagnet 124 only at or near the end of the cycle. This return movement has the effect of separating the contacts 114, and only a repeated yarn break can again cause closing of the contacts 114, 115 in order to again commence a cycle of servicing operations.

The servicing means of the travelling servicing unit can be so designed that the connecting member serves simultaneously as arresting member 31. This can be done for example by designing the arresting (stop) member 31 as a rod 29 which is linked to the releasing member 30. The free end 31a of the rod engages a recess 31b of a structural element rigidly joined with the machine frame structure or the winding station. The release member 30 is preferably designed as a latch pawl and is provided with a shoulder which can enter into a cam shoulder of a rotating disc connected with a device for controlling the servicing means of the travelling unit.

While the irst-mentioned design affords a somewhat slower performance of increased reliability, the second design having the elastic member or other connecting member located between the release member 30 and the stop member 31 operates more rapidly in that the control member Will already be moving at a time during which the unit is still approaching the stoppacfe point. so that when the unit arrives at the accurate stopping point, a servicing operation, if necessary, can commence immediately.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the connecting member or elastic spring 29a described above with relierence to FIG. 2 is substituted by a rigid link 29 between crank 28 and control lever 30, in combination with an elastic or biasing connection 131a between the control lever 30 and the stop member 31. To form this elastic connection, the rod-shaped stop member 31 is linked to the control lever 30 by having the upper end of the stop member 31 displaceable in an elongated slot 30a of lever 30. The stop member 31 is biased by a spring 1315: which abuts at one end against the control lever and at the other end against a shoulder ring or collar 13lb fastened to the stop member 31. When the crank 2S turns in one or the other direction, then the control lever 30 is moved downwardly and the spring 13151 is stressed, tending to force rod 31 downward. At the moment when the stop member 31 is located above and aligned with the recess 31b, the stop member 31 catches into recess 31b and thus arrests the servicing unit 5 in accurate position relative to the winding station. The control lever 3G is also subjected to the action of a return spring 26a (not shown in FIG. 7) in a manner similar to that described above With reference to FIG. 2.

Coil winding machines of the type here dealt with are usually provided with a supply of suction air for the purpose of removing lint, and for operating the yarn-seeking and conveying devices and the like. In the embodiment according to FIG. 8, the available supply of negative air pressure from the lint suction channel is utilized for the purpose of the present invention to operate a device for accurately positioning the servicing unit. The negative air pressure available in a conduit 48, is connected through a duct 104 and a valve 101 with a cylinder 103 containing a piston 102. The valve 101 is controlled by the control switch 25 of the servicing unit. The piston 102 is mounted on a piston rod which serves as stop member 31. When the control switch 25 is actuated to initiate an operation of the servicing unit, irrespective of whether the switch is turned clockwise or counterclockwise, then the suction air in channel 48 acting through duct 104 and valve 101 imposes negative pressure upon the bottom side of piston 102 so that this piston moves downward. At the moment when the stop member 31 is accurately aligned opposite the recess 31b, it catches into the recess and arrests the servicing unit in accurate position while simultaneously entraining the control lever 30 downwardly. Due to the release effected by the control member 30, the servicing devices of the unit now commence a cycle of servicing operations because the latching pawl of control lever 30 has passed out of the cam recess 34 and now permits the control cam 31 to rotate, thus causin g the servicing means to operate. The control lever 30 in this embodiment is under the action of a helical cornpression spring 26]; which tends to bias lever 30 upwardly against cam disc 32.

An embodiment of the type described above with reference to FIG. 2 is particularly advantageous if it is intended to assure that the servicing cycle of the unit 5 can commence only after the servicing unit is reliably arrested and securely latched in accurate position opposite a Winding station by the stop member 31. However, if it is preferred to initiate the servicing cycle of the unit 5 somewhat ahead of the arresting and latching operation, that is, before the servicing unit 5 has fully reached the accurate position in which the stop member 31 fixes the unit 5 relative to the winding station, then an embodiment accord-ing to FIG. 7 is particularly of advantage. The latter embodiment requires less operating time because, for example, the surface of cam disc 32 of the servicing unit has already passed beyond the inevitable idling distance at the moment when the servicing unit 5 is arrested and latched relative to the Winding station. Also prior to such latching operation, any operations to be performed by coaction of the winding station and the servicing unit 5 can be performed in which an accurate location of the unit relative to the winding station is not absolutely necessary. However, the proper latching of the stop member '31 is nevertheless secured in the embodiment of FIG.` S with respect to those operations in which an accurate positioning of the servicing unit relative to the winding station is essential; and this is eifected irrespective of whether the servicing unit 5 approaches the station from the right or the left.

rThe term resilient means is employed herein to define both spring type as well as pneumatic types of yieldable means capable of deformation and substantially resuming its original shape without permanent deformation.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, upon studying this disclosure, that `our invention permits of various modifications and hence may be embodied in devices other than those particularly illustrated and described herein, without departing from the essence of the invention and within the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

We claim:

l. A yarn-coil wind-ing machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located Winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a start-stop mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, latch means normally stopping said mechanism and having a release control member, a switching member displaceably mounted on said unit and connected with said release control -member for moving the latter to an operation-initiating position, each of said winding stations having sensing means responsive to absence o-f yarn and engagea-ble with said switching member for moving said release control member t-o said openationinitiating position only when said sensing means of anI individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means corinected with said servicing unit for reciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said carrier structure lhaving respective stop means located at said respective winding stations, la sto-p member operable to lbe actuated for arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means which are so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and resilient means connecting said stop member with said release control member 4for actuating said stop member when said start-stop mehanism is released yfor a cycle of servicing operations.

2. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path lalong said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a cam mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, a release control member, a switch arm displaceably mounted on said unit and connected with said release control member for moving the latter to an operation-initiating position, said -release control member having a latch pawl engageable with said cam for normally stopping said cam, each of said winding stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and engage- -able with said switch arm for moving said release control member to said operation-initiating position only when said sensing means of an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said indivdual station, drive means connected with said servicing unit for lreciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said vcarrier structure having respective sto-p means located at said respective winding stations, a stop member operable to be actuated -for larresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop -member being latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means which are so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and resilient linking means connecting said stop member with said pawl for actuating said stop member when said pawl releases said cam mechanism for a cycle of servicing operations.

3. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servlcing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a start-stop mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, latch means normally stopping said mechanism and having a release control member, a switching member displaceably mounted on said unit and connected with said release control member for moving the latter to an operation-initiating position, each of said ywinding stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and engageable with said switching member -Sor moving said release control member to said operationinitiating position only when said sensing means of an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means connected with said servicing unit for reciprocating it along said travel path, a 'rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said carrier structure having respective stop means located at said respective winding stations, a stop member operable to be actuated for `arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means which are so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and resilient force-storing means linking said stop member with said switching member for actuating said stop member simultaneously with said startstop mechanism being released `for a cycle of servicing operations.

4. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a start-stop mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, latch means normally stopping said mechanism and having a release control member, a switching member mounted on said unit and connected with said release control member for moving the latter to an operation-initiating position, each of said winding stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and engageable with said switching member for moving said release control member to said operation-initiating position only when said sensing means of an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means connected with said servicing unit `for reciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said carrier structure having respective stop means located at said respective winding stations, a stop member operable to be actuated yfor arresting said unit `during said servicing operation, said stop member being resiliently linked with said release control member so as to be latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means which are so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and means operably connected to said release control member and said stop member for controlling said start-stop mechanism to commence operating only when said servicing unit is arrested relative to said winding station.

5. A yarn-coil winding machine, a comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a start-stop mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, latch means normally stopping said mechanism and having a release control member, a switching member mounted on said unit and connected with said release control member for moving the latter to an operation-initiating position, each of said winding stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and engageable with said switching member for moving said release control member to said operationinitiating position only when said sensing means of an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means connected with said servicing unit for reciprocating it along said travel path, said start-stop mechanism being operably connected to said drive means for respectively stopping and initiating the travel of said unit along said travel path before and after each cycle of servicing operations, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said carrier structure having respective stop means located at said respective winding stations, a stop member operable to be actuated for arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being resiliently linked with said release control member so as to be latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means which are so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and means operably connected to said release control member and said stop member for controlling said start-stop mechanism to commence operating only when said servicing unit is arrested relative to said winding station, said last-named means being operably connected with said start-stop mechanism for terminating the stoppage of the servicing unit travel only after said automatic servicing means of said unit have completed said cycle of operations.

6. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a cam mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, a release control member, a switch arm displaceably mounted on said unit and connected with said release control member for moving the latter to an operation-initiating position, said release control member having a latch pawl engageable with said cam for normally stopping said cam, each of said winding stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and engageable with said switching member for moving the release control member to said operation-initiating position only when said sensing means of an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations in initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means connected with said servicing unit for reciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said carrier structure having respective stop means located at said respective `winding stations, a stop member operable to be actuated for arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means which are so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and resilient linking means connecting said stop member with said pawl for actuating said stop member when said pawl releases said cam mechanism for a cycle of servicing operations, the operating stroke of said latch pawl in relation to said cam being relatively larger than the active operating stroke of said stop member in relation to said stop means, the relative dimensions of said latch pawl, of said cam engageable with said latch pawl, of said stop member and of said stop means engageable by said stop member being adapted so that the withdrawal of said latch pawl from said cam requires a longer operating stroke than is required for latching engagement of said stop member with said stop means, whereby the travel of said servicing unit is arrested after only a portion of said operating stroke of said latch pawl is completed and said cycle of servicing operations is initiated only after an additional portion of the working stroke of said latch pawl is completed.

7. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying ab- I3 sence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said lunit and having la start-stop mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to per-form a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, latch means normally` stopping said mechanism and having a release control member provided with a switch arm displaceably mounted on said unit, each of said winding stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and engageable with said switch arm to displace said release control member only when said sensing means of an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual stattion, drive means connected with said servicing unit for reciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run alongr said structure, said carrier structure having respective stop means forming a tapered recess located at said respective Winding stations, a stop member mateable with said recess and operable to be actuated for arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means, said recesses in said stop means being so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and resilient means connecting said stop member with said release control member -for actuating said stop member when said startstop mechanism is released for a cycle of servicing operations.

8. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a start-stop mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, latch means normally stopping said mechanism and having a release control member provided with a switch arm displaceably mounted on said unit, each of said Winding stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and engageable with said switch arm to displace said release control member only when said sensing means of .an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means connected with said servicing unit for reciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid carrier `structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said carrier structure having respective stop means having a flat surface and lforming a conically tapered recess therein located at said respective winding stations, a stop member having a `frusto-conical end portion engageable with said tlat surface and mateable with said recess for arresting said unit during said servicing operation when said end portion is in said recess, said stop member being latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means, said recesses in said stopl means being so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and resilient means connecting said stop member with said release control member for actuating said stop member to engage said stop means when said start-stop mechanism is -released for a cycle of servicing operations, whereby the servicing cycle is partially released for operation when said end portion of `said stop member engages said flat surface and before said end portion latchingly engages said recess to arrest said servicing unit relative to the winding station.

`9. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding, stations, a mobile lli servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means `for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a start-stop mechanism linked with said servicing means lfor controlling the latter to perform a single-cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, latch means normally stopping said mechanism and having a release control member provided with a switch arm displaceably mounted on said unit, each of said winding `stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and engageable with said switch arm to displace said release control member only when said sensing means of an individual winding `station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means conneoted with said servicing unit `for reciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing uni-t engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said carrier structure having respective stop means forming a tapered recess located at said respective winding stations, a tapered stop member mateable with said recess and operable to be actuated for arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being latchingly engageable With said carrier structure only at said respective stop means, said recesses in'said stop means being so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respectivev stations, and resilient mechanical means operably connecting said stop member and said release control member for actuating said stop member toward said stop means.

10. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located `winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having -a start-stop mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of* said mechanism, latch means normally stopping said mechanism and having a release control member provided with a switch arm displaceably mounted on said unit, each of said winding stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and engageable with said switch arm to displace said release control member only when said sensing means of an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means connected wi-th said servicing unit for reciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along saidv structure, said carrier structure having respective stop means forming a tapered recess located at said respective winding stations, a tapered stop member mateable with said recesses and operable to be actuated for arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means, said recesses in said stop means Ibeing so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and pneumatic means operably connecting said stop member with said release control member for actuating said stop member toward said stop means.

l1. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stationsand having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a start-stop mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, latch means normally Y stopping said mechanism and having a release control member provided with a switch arm displaceably mounted on said unit, each of said winding stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and engageable with said switch arm to displace said release control member only when said sensing means of an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means connected with said servicing unit for reciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said carrier structure having respective stop means forming a tapered recess located at said respective winding stations, a tapered stop member mateable withA said recess and operable to be actuated for arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means, said recesses in said stop means being so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, an'd huid-operated means connecting said stop member with said release control mem-ber for actuating said stop member toward said stop means.

12. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit 4and having a start-stop mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, latch means normally stopping said mechanism and having a release control device mounted on said unit, each of said winding stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and connected for actuating said release control device of said servicing unit only when said sensing means of an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means connected with said servicing unit for reciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said carrier structure having respective stop means forming a tapered recess located at said respective winding stations, a tapered stop member mateable with said recess and operable to be actuated for arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means, said recesses in said stop means being so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and electrical means operably connecting said sensing means ywith said release control device for actuating said stop member toward said stop means.

13. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servicing uni-t having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said Itravel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a cam mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, a release control member, a switch arm displaceably mounted on said unit and connected with said release control member for moving the latter to an operation-initiating position, -said release control member having a latch pawl engageable with said cam yfor normally stopping said cam, each of said winding stations having sensing means responsive to absence of yarn and engageable with said switch arm to displace said release control member only when said sensing means of an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means connected with said servicing unit for reciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said carrier Structure having respective stop means located at said respective winding stations, a stop member operable to be actuated for arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being la-tchingly engageable Iwith said carrier structure only at said respective stop means which are so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in `front of one of said respective stations, and resilient means linking said stop member with said pawl, and operative means connecting said stop member with said pawl for actuating a working stroke of said pawl relative to said cam and for actuating a working stroke of said stop member relative to said stop means.

14. A yarn coil-windin-g machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a cam mechanism linked with said servicing means `for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, a release control device comprising a latch pawl engageable with said cam for normally stopping said cam, said mobile servicing unit having a switch member operatively connected with said release control device, yarn -sensing means responsive to absence of yarn at a respective winding station, said switch member being engageable with said sensing means only when said sensing means of an individual station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means connected with said servicing unit for reciprocating lit along said travel path, a rigid carrier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, :said carrier structure having respective stop means located at said respective winding stations, a stop member operable to be actuated for arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only -at said respective stop means which are so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and resilient Iforce-storing means disposed on said unit for urging said latch pawl toward said cam.

l5. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said unit and having a cam mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, a release control device comprising a latch pawl engageable with said cam for normally stopping said cam, each of said winding stations having sensing means responsive to yarn failure and engageable with said release control device of said servicing unit only when said sensing means of an individual winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, ydrive means connected with said servicing unit for reciprocating it along said travel path, a rigid car-v rier structure extending along said travel path, said servicing unit engaging said carrier structure to run along said structure, said carrier structure having respective stop means located at said respective winding stations, a stop member operable to be actuated for arresting said unit during said servicing operation, said stop member being s,oa1,2 16

latchingly engageable with said carrier structure only at said respective stop means which are so located as to arrest said unit in a given accurately coactive position in front of one of said respective stations, and connecting means operatively linked to said stop member and to said pawl to inhibit complete actuation of said release control device prior to the actuation of said stop member.

16. A yarn-coil winding machine, comprising a multiplicity of serially located Winding stations, a mobile servicing unit having a travel path along said stations and having automatic servicing means for remedying absence of yarn along said travel path, a service control device disposed on said uni-t and having a start-stop mechanism linked with said servicing means for controlling the latter to perform a single cycle of operation upon release of said mechanism, latch means normally stopping said mechanism and having a release control device provided with a switch arm displaceably mounted on said unit, each of said Winding stations having sensing means responsive to yarn failure and engageable with said switch arm to displace said release control device into an active condition only when said sensing means of an individual Winding station is in responded condition whereby a cycle of servicing operations is initiated as the unit reaches said individual station, drive means connected With saidservicing unit for reciprocating it :along said tra'vel path, a rigid structure only at said respective stop means, the latter being so located as to arrest said unit in said predetermined exact position, and means connecting said stop member with said release control device for actuating said stop member when said release control device is moved to said active condition, said actuating means being in cooperating connectiony with said yarn sensing means and operative to disengage said stop member from said stop means and thus to release said servicing unit relative to the Winding station when said yarn sensing member is in a non-responded condition and prior to the release actuation of said release control device initiating another cycle of said servicing means.

17. In a yarn-coil Winding machine provided with a multiplicity of serially located winding stations and with a servicing unit for automatically servicing a plurality of the winding stations, wherein said servicing unit and respective Winding stations are mutually displaceable, said machine being equipped with release control means including a member displaceably mounted on said unit for movement into an active condition upon absence of yarn at an individual one of said Winding stations so as to initiate a cycle of servicing operations; means for arresting said unit in a predetermined exact position in relation to said one winding station, comprising stop means located at said one station, a stop member operable to be actuated for arresting said unit releative to said one station at said exact position during the automatic servicing of said station, and resilient means connecting said stop member with said release control member for actuating said stop member when said release control means is moved to said active condition.

No references cited. 

